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Chapter 3 Contemporary South Asia Overview Let us shift our gaze from the larger global developments in the post- Cold War era to developments in our own region, South Asia. When...

Chapter 3 Contemporary South Asia Overview Let us shift our gaze from the larger global developments in the post- Cold War era to developments in our own region, South Asia. When India and Pakistan joined the club of nuclear powers, this region suddenly became the focus of global attention. The focus was, of course, on the various kinds of conflict in this region: there are pending border and water sharing disputes between the states of the region. Besides, there are conflicts arising out of insurgency, ethnic strife and resource sharing. This makes the region very turbulent. At the same time, many people in South Asia recognise the fact that this region can develop and prosper if the states of the region cooperate with each other. In this chapter, we try to understand the nature of conflict and cooperation among different countries of the region. Since much of this is rooted in or conditioned by the domestic politics of these countries, we first introduce the region and the domestic politics Source: Subhas Rai’s adaptation of ‘Liberty Leading the People’, of some of the big countries in the painted by Eugene Delacroix in 1830. Courtesy of Himal Southasian, region. (January 2007) The Southasia Trust, Nepal 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 29 15-03-2024 12:17:38  30 Contemporary World Politics What is South Asia? The various countries in South Asia do not have the same kind of We are all familiar with the political systems. Despite many gripping tension during an problems and limitations, Sri Identify some India-Pakistan cricket match. Lanka and India have successfully features We have also seen the goodwill operated a democratic system common to and hospitality shown to visiting since their independence from all the South Indian and Pakistani fans by their the British. You will study more Asian countries hosts when they come to watch a about the evolution of democracy but different cricket match. This is symbolic of in India in the textbook that from countries the larger pattern of South Asian deals with politics in India since in West Asia or affairs. Ours is a region where independence. It is, of course, Southeast Asia. rivalry and goodwill, hope and possible to point out many despair, mutual suspicion and limitations of India’s democracy; trust coexist. but we have to remember the Let us begin by asking an fact that India has remained elementary question: what is a democracy throughout its South Asia? The expression existence as an independent ‘South Asia’ usually includes the country. The same is true of Sri following countries: Bangladesh, Lanka. Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The have experienced both mighty Himalayas in the north and civilian and military rulers, the vast Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal in the with Bangladesh remaining a south, west and east respectively democracy in the post-Cold War provide a natural insularity to the period. Pakistan began the post- region, which is largely responsible Cold War period with successive for the linguistic, social and democratic governments under cultural distinctiveness of the sub- Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz continent. The boundaries of the Sharif respectively. But it region are not as clear in the east suffered a military coup in and the west, as they are in the 1999. It has been run by a north and the south. Afghanistan civilian government again since and Myanmar are often included 2008. Till 2006, Nepal was a in discussions of the region as constitutional monarchy with a whole. China is an important the danger of the king taking player but is not considered to be a over executive powers. In 2008, part of the region. In this chapter, the monarchy was abolished and we shall use South Asia to mean Nepal emerged as a democratic the seven countries mentioned republic. From the experience of Is there a fixed above. Thus defined, South Asia Bangladesh and Nepal, we can definition of these stands for diversity in every sense say that democracy is becoming regions? Who decides that? and yet constitutes one geo- an accepted norm in the entire political space. region of South Asia. 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 30 15-03-2024 12:17:39  Contemporary South Asia 31 Similar changes are taking place in the two smallest countries of the region. Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy in 2008. Under the leadership of the king, it emerged as a multi-party democracy. The Maldives, the other island nation, was a Sultanate till 1968 when it was transformed into a republic with a presidential form of government. In June 2005, the parliament of the Maldives voted unanimously to introduce a multi-party system. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) dominates the political affairs of the island. The MDP won the 2018 Elections. Despite the mixed record of the democratic experience, the people in all these countries share the aspiration for democracy. A recent survey of the attitudes of the people in the five big countries of the region showed that there is widespread support for democracy in all these countries. Ordinary citizens, rich as well as poor and belonging to different religions, view the idea of democracy positively and support the institutions of representative democracy. They prefer democracy over any other form of government and think that democracy is suitable for their country. These are Both these graphs are based on interviews with more significant findings, for it was earlier believed than 19,000 ordinary citizens in the five countries of that democracy could flourish and find South Asia. Source: SDSA Team, State of Democracy support only in prosperous countries of the world. in South Asia, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2007 SDG 4.6 SDG 4.1 SDG 8.1 SDG 3.2 SDG 3.3 SDG 1.1 SDG 3 Adult literacy Gross GDP per Infant mortality TB cases Population living below Life expectancy rate (% ages enrolment ratio capita (2011 rate (per 1,000 (per 100,000 income poverty line (%) at birth (years) 15 and older) (Secondary) PPP $) live births) people) PPP $1.90 a day HDI Countries 2017 2006-2016 2012-2017 2017 2016 2016 Rank 2006-2016 World 72.2 82.1 79 15,439 29.9 140.0 – – Developing 70.7 81.1 75 10,199 32.7 164.5 – – countries South Asia 69.3 68.7 71 6,485 37.8 206.3 – – Bangladesh 72.8 72.8 69 3,524 28.2 221.0 14.8 136 India 68.8 69.3 75 6,427 34.6 211.0 21.2 130 Nepal 70.6 59.6 71 2,433 28.4 154.0 15.0 149 Pakistan 66.6 57.0 46 5,035 64.2 268.0 6.1 150 Sri Lanka 75.5 91.2 98 11,669 8.0 65.0 – 76 Source: United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report, 2018 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 31 15-03-2024 12:17:39  32 Contemporary World Politics In that sense the South Asian TIMELINE OF SOUTH ASIA experience of democracy has SINCE 1947 expanded the global imagination 1947: India and Pakistan emerge as independent nations of democracy. after the end of British rule Let us look at the experience 1948: Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gains independence; Indo-Pak of democracy in each of the four conflict over Kashmir big countries of the region other 1954-55: Pakistan joins the Cold War military blocs, SEATO than India. and CENTO 1960: India and Pakistan sign the Indus Waters Treaty 1962: Border conflict between India and China The Military and 1965: Indo-Pak War; UN India-Pakistan Observation Mission 1966: India and Pakistan sign the Tashkent Agreement; Democracy in Pakistan Six-point proposal of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman for greater After Pakistan framed its first autonomy to East Pakistan constitution, General Ayub Khan 1971 March: Proclamation of Independence by leaders of Bangladesh took over the administration August : Indo-Soviet Treaty of Friendship signed for 20 years of the country and soon got himself elected. He had to give December : Indo-Pak War, Liberation of Bangladesh up office when there was popular 1972 July: India and Pakistan sign the Simla Agreement dissatisfaction against his rule. 1974 May: India conducts nuclear test This gave way to a military 1976: Pakistan and Bangladesh establish diplomatic ties takeover once again under General 1985 December: South Asian leaders sign the SAARC Charter at the first summit in Dhaka Yahya Khan. During Yahya’s military rule, Pakistan faced the 1987: Indo-Sri Lanka Accord; Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operation in Sri Lanka (1987-90) Bangladesh crisis, and after a 1988: India sends troops to the Maldives to foil a coup war with India in 1971, East attempt by mercenaries Pakistan broke away to emerge India and Pakistan sign the agreement not to attack nuclear as an independent country called installations and facilities of each other Bangladesh. After this, an elected 1988-91: Democracy restoration in Pakistan, Bangladesh government under the leadership and Nepal of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto came to 1996 December: India and Bangladesh sign the Farakka power in Pakistan from 1971 to Treaty for sharing of the Ganga Waters 1977. The Bhutto government 1998 May: India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests was removed by General Zia- December: India and Sri Lanka sign the Free Trade Agreement ul-Haq in 1977. General Zia (FTA) faced a pro-democracy movement 1999 February: Indian PM Vajpayee undertakes bus journey from 1982 onwards and an to Lahore to sign a Peace Declaration elected democratic government June-July: Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan was established once again in 2001 July: Vajpayee - Musharraf Agra Summit unsuccessful 1988 under the leadership of 2004 January: SAFTA signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in Benazir Bhutto. In the period Islamabad that followed, Pakistani politics 2007: Afghanistan joins SAARC centred around the competition 2014 November: The 18th SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, between her party, the Pakistan Nepal People’s Party, and the Muslim 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 32 15-03-2024 12:17:40  Contemporary South Asia 33 League. This phase of elective democracy lasted till 1999 when the army stepped in again and General Pervez Musharraf removed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In 2001, General Musharraf got himself elected as the President. Pakistan continued to be ruled by the army, though the army rulers have held some elections to give their rule a democratic image. Since 2008, democratically elected leaders have been ruling Pakistan. Several factors have contributed to Pakistan’s failure in building a stable democracy. The social dominance of the Surendra, The Hindu military, clergy, and landowning This cartoon comments on the dual role of Pakistan’s ruler Pervez Musharraf as the President of the country and as the army General. aristocracy has led to the frequent Read the equations carefully and write down the message of this overthrow of elected governments cartoon. and the establishment of military government. Pakistan’s conflict countries have encouraged the with India has made the pro- military’s authoritarian rule in the military groups more powerful. past, for their own reasons. Given These groups have often said that their fear of the threat of what they political parties and democracy call ‘global Islamic terrorism’ and in Pakistan are flawed, that the apprehension that Pakistan’s Pakistan’s security would be nuclear arsenal might fall into the harmed by selfish-minded parties hands of these terrorist groups, and chaotic democracy, and the military regime in Pakistan that the army’s stay in power is, therefore, justified. While has been seen as the protector democracy has not been fully of Western interests in West Asia successful in Pakistan, there and South Asia. has been a strong pro-democracy sentiment in the country. Pakistan has a courageous and relatively Democracy in Bangladesh free press and a strong human Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan rights movement. from 1947 to 1971. It consisted of the partitioned areas of Bengal If Germany can be The lack of genuine reunited, why can’t international support for and Assam from British India. The the people of India democratic rule in Pakistan has people of this region resented the and Pakistan at least further encouraged the military domination of western Pakistan travel more easily to continue its dominance. The and the imposition of the Urdu to each other’s United States and other Western language. Soon after the partition, country? 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 33 15-03-2024 12:17:40  34 Contemporary World Politics they began protests against the arrested. Under the military unfair treatment meted out to rule of General Yahya Khan, the the Bengali culture and language. Pakistani army tried to suppress They also demanded fair the mass movement of the Bengali representation in administration people. Thousands were killed by and a fair share in political power. the Pakistan army. This led to a Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman led the popular struggle against large scale migration into India, West Pakistani domination. He creating a huge refugee problem demanded autonomy for the for India. The government of India easter n region. In the 1970 supported the demand of the elections in the then Pakistan, people of East Pakistan for their the Awami League led by Sheikh independence and helped them Mujib won all the seats in East financially and militarily. This Pakistan and secured a majority resulted in a war between India in the proposed constituent and Pakistan in December 1971 assembly for the whole of Pakistan. But the government that ended in the surrender of the dominated by the West Pakistani Pakistani forces in East Pakistan leadership refused to convene and the formation of Bangladesh the assembly. Sheikh Mujib was as an independent country. A mural in Dhaka University to remember Noor Hossain who was killed by the police during pro-democracy protests against General Ershad in 1987. Painted on his back: “Let Democracy be Freed”. Photo credit: Shahidul Alam/ Drik 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 34 15-03-2024 12:17:40  Contemporary South Asia 35 Bangladesh drafted its responsive system of government. Let’s know constitution declaring faith in But the king, with the help of the more about secularism, democracy and army, retained full control over Bangladesh’s socialism. However, in 1975 the government and restricted the Grameen Bank. Sheikh Mujib got the constitution expansion of democracy in Nepal. Can we make amended to shift from the use of the idea The king accepted the demand parliamentary to presidential to reduce for a new democratic constitution form of government. He also poverty in in 1990, in the wake of a strong pro- abolished all parties except his India? democracy movement. However, own, the Awami League. This led democratic governments had a to conflicts and tensions. In a short and troubled career. During dramatic and tragic development, the nineties, the Maoists of Nepal he was assassinated in a military were successful in spreading uprising in August 1975. The new their influence in many parts of military ruler, Ziaur Rahman, Nepal. They believed in armed for med his own Bangladesh insurrection against the monarch National Party and won elections and the ruling elite. This led to in 1979. He was assassinated a violent conflict between the and another military takeover Maoist guerrillas and the armed followed under the leadership forces of the king. For some time, of Lt Gen H. M. Ershad. The there was a triangular conflict people of Bangladesh soon rose among the monarchist forces, in support of the demand for the democrats and the Maoists. democracy. Students were in In 2002, the king abolished the the forefront. Ershad was forced parliament and dismissed the to allow political activity on a government, thus ending even the limited scale. He was later elected limited democracy that existed in as President for five years. Mass Nepal. public protests made Ershad step down in 1990. Elections In April 2006, there were were held in 1991. Since then massive, country wide, pro- representative democracy based democracy protests. The on multi-party elections has been struggling pro-democracy forces working in Bangladesh. achieved their first major victory when the king was forced to restore the House of Representatives Monarchy and that had been dissolved in April 2002. The largely non-violent Democracy in Nepal movement was led by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in and social activists. the past and then a constitutional monarchy in the modern period Nepal’s transition to for many years. Throughout democracy is almost complete. this period, political parties and Nepal has undergone a unique the common people of Nepal moment in its history because it have wanted a more open and formed a constituent assembly to 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 35 15-03-2024 12:17:40  36 Contemporary World Politics draft the constitution for Nepal. since its independence in 1948. Some sections in Nepal thought But it faced a serious challenge, that a nominal monarchy was not from the military or monarchy necessary for Nepal to retain its but rather from ethnic conflict link with the past. The Maoist leading to the demand for groups agreed to suspend secession by one of the regions. armed struggle. They wanted Nepal sounds really the constitution to include the After its independence, politics exciting. I wish I was radical programmes of social and in Sri Lanka (it was then known as in Nepal! economic restructuring. All the Ceylon) was dominated by forces parties in the SPA did not agree that represented the interest of the with this programme. The Maoists majority Sinhala community. They and some other political groups were hostile to a large number of were also deeply suspicious of Tamils who had migrated from the Indian government and its India to Sri Lanka and settled role in the future of Nepal. In 2008, Nepal became a democratic there. This migration continued republic after abolishing the even after independence. The monarchy. In 2015, it adopted a Sinhala nationalists thought new constitution. that Sri Lanka should not give ‘concessions’ to the Tamils because Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhala Ethnic Conflict and people only. The neglect of Tamil Democracy in Sri Lanka concerns led to militant Tamil nationalism. From 1983 onwards, We have already seen that Sri the militant organisation, the Lanka has retained democracy Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Democracy activist, Durga Thapa, participating in a pro-democracy rally in Kathmandu in 1990. The second picture shows the same person in 2006, this time celebrating the success of the second democracy movement. Photo credit: Min Bajracharya 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 36 15-03-2024 12:17:41  Contemporary South Asia 37 (LTTE) was fighting an armed struggle with the army of Sri Lanka in pursuit of their demand for a ‘Tamil Elam’ or separate country for the Tamilians of Sri Lanka. At one point of time, the northeastern part of Sri Lanka was controlled by LTTE. The Sri Lankan problem involves people of Indian origin, and there was considerable pressure from the Tamil people in India to the effect that the Indian government should protect the interests of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The government of India Keshav, The Hindu has from time to time tried to The cartoon depicts the dilemma of the Sri Lankan leadership in trying to balance Sinhala hardliners or the Lion and Tamil militants or negotiate with the Sri Lankan the Tiger while negotiating peace. government on the Tamil question. But in 1987, the government of LTTE was vanquished in 2009. India for the first time got directly involved in the Sri Lankan Tamil In spite of the conflict, question. India signed an accord Sri Lanka has registered with Sri Lanka and sent troops considerable economic growth to stabilise relations between the and recorded high levels of Sri Lankan government and the human development. Sri Lanka Tamils. Eventually, the Indian was one of the first developing Army got into a fight with the countries to successfully control LTTE. The presence of Indian the rate of growth of population, troops was also not liked much the first country in the region to by the Sri Lankans. They saw liberalise the economy, and it has this as an attempt by India to had the highest per capita gross interfere in the internal affairs domestic product (GDP) for many of Sri Lanka. In 1989, the Indian years right through the civil war. Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) pulled Despite the ravages of internal out of Sri Lanka without attaining conflict, it has maintained a its objective. democratic political system. The Sri Lankan crisis continued to be violent. However, India-Pakistan Conflicts international actors, particularly Let us now move from domestic the Scandinavian countries such politics and take a look at some of as Norway and Iceland tried to the areas of conflict in the inter- bring the warring groups back to national relations in this region. negotiations. Finally, the armed The post-Cold War era has not conflict came to an end, as the meant the end of conflicts and 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 37 15-03-2024 12:17:41  38 Contemporary World Politics Kashmir and the Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control. In 1971, India won a decisive war against Pakistan but the Kashmir issue remained unsettled. India’s conflict with Pakistan is also over strategic issues like the control of the Siachen glacier and over acquisition of arms. The arms race between the two countries assumed a new character with both states acquiring nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver such arms against each other in the 1990s. In 1998, India conducted nuclear explosion in Pokhran. Pakistan responded within a few days by Keshav, The Hindu carrying out nuclear tests in the A view of the current phase of the Indo-Pak negotiations. Chagai Hills. Since then India and Pakistan seem to have built tensions in this region. We have a military relationship in which already noted the conflicts around the possibility of a direct and full- internal democracy or ethnic scale war has declined. differences. But there are also But both the governments some very crucial conflicts of an continue to be suspicious of each international nature. Given the other. The Indian government has position of India in this region, blamed the Pakistan government most of these conflicts involve for using a strategy of low-key India. violence by helping the Kashmiri The most salient and over- militants with arms, training, whelming of these conflicts is, of money and protection to carry out course, the one between India and terrorist strikes against India. The Pakistan. Soon after the partition, Indian government also believes the two countries got embroiled in that Pakistan had aided the pro- a conflict over the fate of Kashmir. Khalistani militants with arms The Pakistani government claimed and ammunitions during the that Kashmir belonged to it. Wars period 1985-1995. Its spy agency, Discussion on Kashmir between India and Pakistan in Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), is sounds like a property 1947-48 and 1965 failed to settle alleged to be involved in various dispute between the rulers of India and the matter. The 1947-48 war anti-India campaigns in India’s Pakistan! What do the resulted in the division of the northeast, operating secretly Kashmiris feel about it? province into Pakistan-occupied through Bangladesh and Nepal. 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 38 15-03-2024 12:17:41  Contemporary South Asia 39 The government of Pakistan, unhappy with Bangladesh’s in tur n, blames the Indian denial of illegal immigration to government and its security India, its support for anti-Indian agencies for fomenting trouble Islamic fundamentalist groups, in the provinces of Sindh and Bangladesh’s refusal to allow Balochistan. Indian troops to move through its territory to northeaster n India and Pakistan also have India, and its decision not had problems over the sharing to export natural gas to India of river waters. Until 1960, they Why is it that or allow Myanmar to do so were locked in a fierce argument every one of our through Bangladeshi territory. neighbours has a over the use of the rivers of Bangladeshi governments have problem with India? the Indus basin. Eventually, in felt that the Indian government Is there something 1960, with the help of the World behaves like a regional bully wrong with our Bank, India and Pakistan signed over the sharing of river waters, foreign policy? Or is it the Indus Waters Treaty which encouraging rebellion in the just our size? has survived to this day in spite Chittagong Hill Tracts, trying to of various military conflicts in extract its natural gas and being which the two countries have unfair in trade. The two countries been involved. There are still could not resolve their boundary some minor differences about dispute for a long while. the interpretation of the Indus Despite their differences, India Waters Treaty and the use of the and Bangladesh do cooperate on river waters. The two countries many issues. Economic relations are not in agreement over the have improved considerably in demarcation line in Sir Creek in the last 20 years. Bangladesh the Rann of Kutch. The dispute is a part of India’s Look East seems minor, but there is an (Act East since 2014) policy that underlying worry that how the wants to link up with Southeast dispute is settled may have an Asia via Myanmar. On disaster impact on the control of sea management and environmental resources in the area adjoining issues, the two states have Sir Creek. India and Pakistan cooperated regularly. In 2015, are holding negotiations on all they exchanged certain enclaves. these issues. Efforts are on to broaden the areas of cooperation further by identifying common threats India and its Other and being more sensitive to each Neighbours other’s needs. Nepal and India enjoy a very The governments of India and special relationship that has very Bangladesh have had differences few parallels in the world. A treaty over several issues including between the two countries allows the sharing of the Ganga and the citizens of the two countries Brahmaputra river waters. The to travel to and work in the Indian government has been other country without visas and 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 39 15-03-2024 12:17:41  40 Contemporary World Politics passports. Despite this special relationship, the governments of the two countries have had trade-related disputes in the past. The Indian government has often expressed displeasure at STEPS the warm relationship between Nepal and China and at the  Divide the classroom into eight groups (as many as Nepal government’s inaction the number of countries). The number of students against anti-Indian elements. in each group may vary, reflecting the size of the Indian security agencies see the countries of South Asia. Maoist movement in Nepal as a  Name each group after a country and hand over growing security threat, given a brief country profile to respective groups. Besides the rise of Naxalite groups in the basic information, include a short note on the various Indian states from Bihar contentious issues/disputes among the South Asian in the north to Andhra Pradesh countries. The issues could be those discussed in this in the south. Many leaders and chapter or an issue of relevance but not discussed citizens in Nepal think that the in the chapter. Indian government interferes in its internal affairs, has designs  Allow students to select an issue of their choice. The on its river waters and hydro- dispute could be bilateral or multilateral (the issue electricity, and prevents Nepal, a could be related to India, given the geographic landlocked country, from getting peculiarity of the region). easier access to the sea through  Assign each group to find out what initiatives the Indian territory. Nevertheless, governments involved have taken and the reasons Indo-Nepal relations are fairly for their failures in resolving the disputes. stable and peaceful. Despite dif ferences, trade, scientific  Students should assume the role of representing cooperation, common natural their respective countries and share their findings. resources, electricity generation Ideas for the Teacher and interlocking water management grids hold the two  Pair up the countries sharing the common issue/dispute. It could be two groups in the case of a bilateral issue or more in case countries together. There is a of a multilateral issue (examples of bilateral issues include the hope that the consolidation of Jammu and Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, the democracy in Nepal will lead to migrant problem between India and Bangladesh; multilateral improvements in the ties between issues include the creation of a free trade zone or tackling terrorism). the two countries.  Groups should negotiate on the proposals and counter- The difficulties in the proposals within a time limit. The teacher is to take note of the relationship between the outcome of the negotiations. The focus should be on the areas of agreement and disagreement. governments of India and Sri Lanka are mostly over ethnic conflict in  Link the outcome of the negotiations with the prevailing situation among the countries of South Asia. Talk about the difficulties the island nation. Indian leaders involved in negotiating on a political issue based on the and citizens find it impossible observation made. Conclude by discussing the importance of to remain neutral when Tamils accommodating each other’s interest for the sake of peaceful coexistence. are politically unhappy and are being killed. After the military intervention in 1987, the Indian 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 40 15-03-2024 12:17:41  Contemporary South Asia 41 government now prefers a policy the region. The smaller countries of disengagement vis-à-vis Sri fear that India wants to be a Lanka’s inter nal tr oubles. regionally-dominant power. India signed a free trade Not all conflicts in South agreement with Sri Lanka, which strengthened relations between Asia are between India and its two countries. India’s help in neighbours. Nepal and Bhutan, as post-tsunami reconstruction in well as Bangladesh and Myanmar, Sri Lanka has also brought the have had disagr eements in the past over the migration of If the chapter, on two countries closer. ethnic Nepalese into Bhutan and US was called ‘US India enjoys a very special the Rohingyas from Myanmar Hegemony’ why relationship with Bhutan too and is this chapter not into India and Bangladesh, called ‘Indian does not have any major conflict respectively. Bangladesh and Hegemony’? with the Bhutanese government. Nepal have had some differences The efforts made by the over the future of the Himalayan Bhutanese monarch to weed out river waters. The major conflicts the guerrillas and militants from northeastern India that operate and differences, though, are in his country have been helpful between India and the others, to India. India is involved in big partly because of the geography hydroelectric projects in Bhutan of the region, in which India is and remains the Himalayan located centrally and is therefore kingdom’s biggest source of the only country that borders the development aid. India’s ties with others. the Maldives remain warm and cordial. In November 1988, when some Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka attacked the Maldives, the Indian air force and navy reacted quickly to the Maldives’ request to help stop the invasion. India has also contributed towards the island’s economic development, tourism and fisheries. You may have noticed that India has various problems with its smaller neighbours in the region. Given its size and power, they are bound to be suspicious of India’s intentions. The Indian government, on the other hand, often feels exploited by its neighbours. It does not like Surendra, The Hindu the political instability in these countries, fearing it can help What does this cartoon tell you about the role of India and Pakistan in the process of regional cooperation in South Asia? outside powers to gain influence in 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 41 15-03-2024 12:17:41  42 Contemporary World Politics Peace and Cooperation Do the states of South Asia cooperate with each other? Or do they only keep fighting with each other? In spite of the many conflicts, the states of South Asia recognise the importance of cooperation and friendly relationship, among themselves. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a major regional initiative by the South Asian states to evolve cooperation through multilateral means. It began in 1985. Unfortunately, due to persisting political differences, SAARC has not had much Keshav, The Hindu success. SAARC members signed the South Asian Free Trade (SAFTA) agreement which promised the formation of a free trade zone for the whole of South Asia. A new chapter of peace and cooperation might evolve in South Asia if all the countries in the region allow free trade across the borders. This is the spirit behind the idea of SAFTA. The Agreement was signed in 2004 and came into effect on 1 January 2006. SAFTA aims at lowering trade tariffs. But some of our neighbours fear that SAFTA is a way for India to ‘invade’ Pakistan Tribune their markets and to influence their societies The two cartoons, one from India and the other and politics through commercial ventures and from Pakistan, interpret the role of two key a commercial presence in their countries. India players who are also interested in the region. thinks that there are real economic benefits for Do you notice any commonality between their all from SAFTA and that a region that trades perspectives? more freely will be able to cooperate better on political issues. Some in India think that SAFTA is not worth the trouble since India already has bilateral agreements with Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Although India-Pakistan relations seem to be a story of endemic conflict and violence, there have been a series of efforts to manage tensions Every association seems to have and build peace. The two countries have agreed to emerged for trade! undertake confidence building measures to reduce Is trade more the risk of war. Social activists and prominent important than personalities have collaborated to create an people-to-people atmosphere of friendship among the people of relations? both countries. Leaders have met at summits to understand each other better and to find solutions 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 42 15-03-2024 12:17:42 Contemporary South Asia 43 to the major problems between American involvement in South the two neighbours. A number of Asia has rapidly increased after bus routes have been opened up the Cold War. The US has had between the two countries. Trade good relations with both India between India and Pakistan had and Pakistan since the end of the increased and Visas had been Cold War and increasingly works more easily granted. However, in as a moderator in India-Pakistan recent times, the situation has relations. Economic reforms and changed. liberal economic policies in both countries have greatly increased No region exists in a vacuum. the depth of American participation It is influenced by outside powers in the region. The large South Asian and events no matter how much diasporas in the US and the huge it may try to insulate itself from size of the population and markets non-regional powers. China and of the region also give America the United States remain key an added stake in the future of players in South Asian politics. regional security and peace. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the last However, whether South Asia ten years, but China’s strategic will continue to be known as a partnership with Pakistan conflict prone zone or will evolve into remains a major irritant. The a regional bloc with some common demands of development and cultural features and trade interests globalisation have brought the will depend more on the people and two Asian giants closer, and their the governments of the region than economic ties have multiplied any other outside power. rapidly since 1991. 1. Identify the country: Exercises a. The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability: b. A landlocked country with multi-party competition: c. The first country to liberalise its economy in the South Asian region: d. In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy: e. Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian countries: f. Earlier the island had the Sultan as the head of state. Now, it’s a republic: g. Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty: h. A landlocked country with a monarchy: 2024-25  44 Contemporary World Politics 2. Which among the following statements about South Asia is wrong? a) All the countries in South Asia are democratic. b) Bangladesh and India have signed an agreement on river-water sharing. c) SAFTA was signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in Islamabad. E x e r c i s e s d) The US and China play an influential role in South Asian politics. 3. What are some of the commonalities and differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in their democratic experiences? 4. List three challenges to democracy in Nepal. 5. Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How do you assess the prospects of the resolution of this conflict? 6. Mention some of the recent agreements between India and Pakistan. Can we be sure that the two countries are well on their way to a friendly relationship? 7. Mention two areas each of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh. 8. How are the external powers influencing bilateral relations in South Asia? Take any one example to illustrate your point. 9. Write a short note on the role and the limitations of SAARC as a forum for facilitating economic cooperation among the South Asian countries. 10. India’s neighbours often think that the Indian government tries to dominate and interfere in the domestic affairs of the smaller countries of the region. Is this a correct impression? 2024-25 Chapter 3.indd 44 15-03-2024 12:17:42